Credits must be in Level 2 or higher; or, for ELL students, ESL Level 2 or higher

Practical Experiences (5 credits in grades 9-12)

​5 credits in Computer Science or Applied Technology (maybe fulfilled in middle level); if Computer Science or Applied Technology requirement is fulfilled at middle level, then 5 credits in Business, Consumer & Family Studies, or other Career & Technology education course is required

AND, To meet this requirement all students must also demonstrate evidence of completion of a 12 hour course in Money Management & Personal Finance in grades 7-12 or through a qualified district course

Health (5 credits in grades 9-10)

Fine Arts (5 credits in grades 9-12: includes music or art)

Colorado Higher Education Entrance​ Requirements

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education established these course guidelines, known as the Higher Education Admission Requirements or HEAR. They specify the courses your student will need to successfully complete in high school, primarily in the areas of English, mathematics, natural and physical sciences, and social sciences, to qualify for admission to a public four-year college or university in Colorado. If your student plans to attend a four-year college or university in Colorado, then he or she will need to complete the following classes to fulfill the Higher Education Adm​issions Requirements:

High School Academic Area

2010 Graduates & beyond

English

4 years

Mathematics

4 years (must include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry or equivalents)

Natural/Physical Sciences (two units must be lab-based)

3 years

Social Sciences (at least one unit of U.S. or world history)

3 years

Foreign Language

1 year

Academic Elective

2 years

The Higher Education Admissions Requirements do not apply to Community Colleges, which have open enrollment policies, meaning that students applying to these schools do not need to meet the admissions requirements outlined above.

For more information on helping your student plan for college, please visit the State’s free college-prep website, www.CollegeInColorado.org for valuable information, including financial and scholarship information.

In the course description booklet, courses that meet the Higher Education Admission Requirements for the core academic areas are designated as HEAR, courses that meet the academic elective requirements are identifies as HEAR Academic Elective. Should you have further questions, please contact your school counselor, school principal, or any classroom teacher.